Phillip D. Hochstetler
Detective Sergeant

Phillip D. Hochstetler

Felonious
End of Watch June 29, 1994
Age 32
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 43-22
The Vigil Panel 140 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant Phillip Hochstetler was shot and killed while interviewing a suspect about a recent burglary. The suspect agreed to surrender his weapons to Detective Sergeant Hochstetler. At the last moment, the suspect turned one of the weapons on the officer. Detective Sergeant Hochstetler was shot in the throat and head. The suspect then murdered his two small children before fleeing the home. Two days later, the suspect was recognized when he drove past the crime scene. The officers chased him into downtown Warsaw. When the suspect fired upon the officers, they returned fire. The suspect was shot and killed by Warsaw police officers. Detective Sergeant Hochstetler had served with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department for four years and had previously served with the Nappanee Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-666C85AC
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Hochstetler gave the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Warsaw community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Hochstetler.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Warsaw, Kosciusko County, IN
Platform Identity kcso.kosciusko.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 29, 1994
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number 43-22
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Detective Sergeant Phillip D. Hochstetler is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department
1
of 3 officers
33.3% Felonious
IN — Statewide
311
of 503 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Phillip D. Hochstetler's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Phillip D. Hochstetler Compares

Age at Death
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Phillip D. Hochstetler is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Phillip D. Hochstetler was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.